Ramírez Lab

Pharmacoinformatics & Systems Pharmacology

Welcome to the Ramírez Lab

We are a multidisciplinary group focused on the study of biomolecular systems by using theoretical and experimental approaches. We aim to use computational polypharmacology with wet lab analyses to strengthen the drug design and development processes. Our work involves collaboration with medicinal chemists, biochemists, and biologists, and we are part of the Pharmacology Department - Faculty of Biological Sciences at University of Concepción.


Active research areas

Our laboratory spearheads innovative research across three key areas:

Systems pharmacology

Structural bioinformatics

Multitarget drug design

Together, these research avenues underscore our commitment to transcending traditional drug discovery paradigms, employing a synergistic blend of computational and experimental methodologies to pursue new avenues in the treatment of complex diseases.


Latest publication

Druggable cavities and allosteric modulators of the cell division cycle 7 (CDC7) kinase

Elisa Rojas-Prats, Loreto Martinez-Gonzalez, Carmen Gil, David Ramírez & Ana Martinez.

Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry. 39 (2024) 1, 2301767. DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2024.2301767

Cell division cycle 7 kinase (CDC7) has been found overexpressed in many cancer cell lines being also one of the kinases involved in the nuclear protein TDP-43 phosphorylation in vivo. Thus, inhibitors of CDC7 are emerging drug candidates for the treatment of oncological and neurodegenerative unmet diseases. All the known CDC7 inhibitors are ATP-competitives, lacking of selectivity enough for success in clinical trials. As allosteric sites are less conserved among kinase proteins, discovery of allosteric modulators of CDC7 is a great challenge and opportunity in this field. Using different computational approaches, we have here identified new druggable cavities on the human CDC7 structure and subsequently selective CDC7 inhibitors with allosteric modulation mainly targeting the pockets where the interaction between this kinase and its activator DBF4 takes place.

Funding

Grant Funded by Role Date
Open Chemoinformatics. Chile - Universidad de Concepción No. 2023014 Principal Investigator 2023 – 2024
Uso de un Escape Room como recurso docente en las asignaturas de Faramcología. Chile - Universidad de Concepción No. 2023015 Co-investigator 2023 – 2024
Ori-tanpakushitsu: creación de modelos tridimensionales para la comprensión de las fuerzas intermoleculares involucradas en la acción farmacológica. Chile - Universidad de Concepción No. 2023023 Co-investigator 2023 – 2024
Ligand and structure-based polypharmacology of K+ channels from the nociceptive primary sensory neurons: an alternative in pain treatment. Chile - Fondecyt Regular No. 1230446 Co-investigator 2023 – 2027
Development of an infectious process-activated protide with therapeutic potential for control of fish farming diseases. Chile - Fondecyt Regular No. 1231088 Co-investigator 2023 – 2027
Interdisciplinary generation of highly specific peptidic blockers of TASK-3 channel with antitumoral effect and targeting moiety for nanotherapeutics. Chile - Fondecyt Regular No. 1230996 Co-investigator 2023 – 2027
Multidisplinary Center for Biotechnology and Molecular Biology for Climate Change Adaptation in Forest Resources (CeBioCliF). Chile - ANID No. ATE220043 Principal Investigator 2022 – 2025
Towards systems pharmacology to design multi-target directed ligands as therapeutic alternatives for Alzheimer’s disease. Chile - Fondecyt Regular No. 1220656 Principal Investigator 2022 – 2025
Let's talk pharmacology!!! Chile - Universidad de Concepción No. UCO1966 Principal Investigator 2022
Identificación de moduladores del canal iónico TMC1 como alternativa terapéutica para el tratamiento de la sordera. Chile - ANID No. FOVI210027 Principal Investigator 2022 - 2023
Development of novel therapeutic alternatives for alcohol-use disorders: a multidisciplinary approach. Chile - ANID No. ACT210012 Deputy Director 2022 - 2025
Coupling artificial intelligence and neurosciences to potentiate pharmacological actions of tibolone over neuroglobin signaling in traumatic brain injury. Ireland - Science Foundation Ireland Associate Investigator 2021 - 2024
Reposicionamiento de medicamentos para tratamiento de la pandemia por coronavirus (COVID-19). Chile - ANID No. COVID0199 Principal Investigator 2021 - 2022
Actualización de los servicios de ANSEP (Astrocyte-neuron simulation environment platform) bajo el estudio integrativo de enfermedades neurodegenerativas. Colombia - Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Associate Investigator 2021 - 2022
Target- and ligand-based drugs to control SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (CoV2Drugs). Spain - CSIC-COV19-015 Associate Investigator 2020 - 2021
Multi-Target Drug Design Against Neurodegenerative Diseases. Chile - Conicyt No. REDES190074 Principal Investigator 2020 - 2021
INSECTR – International Network to Study Secondary Metabolite Transport In Plants. Chile - Conicyt No. REDES1900254 Associate Investigator 2020 - 2021
Identificación de reacciones controladoras de lipotoxicidad inducida por ácido palmítico en un modelo computacional multiómico astrocitario. Colombia - Colciencias No. 67270 Associate Investigator 2020 - 2022
Scholarship Programme for Young Professors and Researchers from Latin American Universities. Spain - Coimbra group Principal Investigator 2019
Structural insights into the substrate specificity and transport mechanisms in the Nitrate/Peptide Transporter (NPF) Family. Chile - Fondecyt Iniciación No. 11180604 Principal Investigator 2018 – 2021
Análisis metabolómico de los efectos neuroprotectores de la tibolona en un modelo astrocitico humano de lipotoxicidad con ácido palmítico. Colombia - Colciencias International Advisor 2017 - 2020